Sixth Sunday of Easter

5 May 2024

All you need is love

‘Love? Above all things I believe in love. Love is like oxygen. Love is a many – splendoured thing. Love lifts us up where we belong. All you need is love.’ In an attempt to express the depth of his love, the character Christian from the film Moulin Rouge pulls together the lyrics of some of the most famous love songs of recent decades. Since time began, poetry, prose, and song have attempted to put into words the great mystery that is love. ‘At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet,’ the philosopher Plato put it.

Today’s Gospel offers one of the most eloquent passages on love in the Gospels. It reveals the vision of Jesus for his followers and explains how we should treat one another. We are to love each other with the same love Jesus showed during his time on earth, that great and generous love that culminated in his ‘laying down his life for his friends’. It is in the way we love one another, the way we understand and forgive and support one another, that we experience the life and love of Jesus.

There are more than 20 references to love in today’s readings. In the second reading we hear that ‘everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God’. That love that God showed by sending his Son for us, is the same generous, wholehearted, self-sacrificing love we are called to show others – all others. God does not have favourites.

‘We find it so hard to accept the revelation that it is God’s delight to be worshipped in the way we touch and look at each other, in the way we listen and talk to each other, in the way we forgive and promise to start all over again.’ (Daniel O’Leary)

         Triona Doherty

Announcements

Last week’s collection amounted to £2917.00. Thank you.

Those who pay to the weekly collection or any special collections, including Priest’s Collection, by cheque are asked that all cheques should be made payable to ‘Melmount Parish’.

Parishioners can still leave their contributions in the Parish Office. Contributions can be made by cheque made payable to Melmount Parish or cash. If the Office is closed please use the letterbox.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place in the church on Monday 6 May after 10.00am Mass until 6.00pm. During May Exposition will be dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary for World Peace. The Rosary will be recited prior to closure of Adoration at approximately 5.40pm. Everyone is welcome.

Blessing of Graves The Annual Ceremony of the Blessing of Graves will take place here in Melmount on Sunday 19 May 2024 at 4.00pm.

The Lourdes Hospitalite collection amounted to £1315. Many thanks for your generosity.

May they Rest in Peace

Deaths

Eleanor Devine, 29 Melmount Gardens       

Sheila O’Neill, 17 Melmount Road

Maisie Harold, Nottingham formerly Glebe

Anniversaries

Kate Murphy Flynn, Frank Turbett, Christine McMenamin

James Neeson, Rory Carlin, Edward McColgan

Patricia Quigg, Kay Campbell, Paddy Casey

Betty Bradley, Mary McColgan, Mary McGurk

Marie McDaid, Mairead Brolly, Paddy McDaid

Betty Gillespie, Norma Cunningham, Sharlene Ellis        

Mary Bridget Kelly, Lean Elliott, Christina O’Kane

Andy Wallace, Mary Wallace, Becky Campbell

Winnifred Elliott, Josephine Gallagher, Patricia Gallagher           

Maggie Hanna, Bella McCay, Joe McCay

Kevin McGonigle, John McGillian                     

Baptism Dates

May: Sunday 25.

June: Sunday 9; Saturday 22; Saturday 29.

July: Sunday 7; Saturday 13; Saturday 27.

August: Sunday 4; Saturday 10; Saturday 24.

Baptisms will be at 4.00pm on a Saturday and 1.15pm on a Sunday. To book a Baptism contact the Parish Office on 71383777 during office hours.

Vocations We pray for those chosen by the Lord to serve the Church as priests of the diocese of Derry that, like the disciples in today’s gospel, they will accept the Lord’s commission to ‘...go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last.’

Church of the Immaculate Conception, Strabane is running a photographic competition for all amateur photographers. Original photographs can be of any aspect of the Church, inside or outside and emailed to churchphotos@camusheritage.com. Prize winners will be announced on Friday 7 June. For more information see the Church of the Immaculate Conception Facebook page.

Accord Derry Marriage Preparation Courses (Pre-Marriage Courses) will take place on 17/18 May and 14/15 June. Courses can be booked online at www.accordni.com. Please note that all courses are now in person and NOT virtual.

Parish Draw Promoters should make their returns for May to the Parish Office on Monday 13 May from 2.00pm - 4.00pm. The Draw for May will take place on Thursday 16 May at 10.30am in the Parish Office.

Lough Derg Pilgrimage Season. Three Day Pilgrimages from Friday 31 May - Thursday 15 August. Admission €80. Booking advised. One Day Retreats: May 12, 14, 18, 25, 27. August 17, 20, 25, 26, 31. September 4, 7, 10, 14, 15, 21, 22. Admission is €45 and booking is essential. For more information contact Lough Derg on info@loughderg.org or telephone 00353 7198 61518.

Graveyards: We would ask that when you are having headstones and surrounds erected in the graveyards or having any work carried out to existing graves that you put any ornaments or flowers etc that are on the grave in a safe place while the work is being carried out. The parish is not responsible for any damage or loss of these items. A reminder that there are specific measurements for surrounds and headstones in the newest of our graveyards and benches are not permitted. Please ensure that whoever is erecting the headstone and surround for you in this graveyard, contact the Parish Office on 71383777 before any work commences.

The Two Parishes Walk -Sunday 12 May - Cross community history walk with Fr. Roland Colhoun and Rev. Ivan Dinsmore, exploring Baronscourt Estate with its castles, lakes, woods and paths. Donation: £10-£15 per person or £30 per car. Proceeds will be divided between the two St. Eugene’s Churches (Main Street & Glenock). Registration at the Estate Office, 55 Baronscourt Road at 2.30pm. Distance 3 miles on foot, good terrain, no hills. Bring a snack and drinking water.

Mary’s Meals - Pray in May. Mary’s Meals provides school meals to over 2.4 million children every day. During the month of May, dedicated to Our Lady, we invite you to join us in praying for the hungry children who rely on our life-changing school meals, and for all the children and families around the world who live in poverty. We are praying particularly for families facing extreme food insecurity and hunger in Ethiopia. More information can be found at www.marysmeals.org.uk/prayinmay

Masters in Catholic School Leadership Information Session 20 May 2024. The Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre, working in Partnership with St. Mary’s University, Twickenham, offers the Masters in Catholic School Leadership. This is a post graduate degree dedicated to the professional development and spiritual formation of Catholic school leaders. It is a great opportunity for those currently in leadership roles and those who aspire to, or have an interest in, leadership roles within the Catholic School system. An information session via ZOOM will be held on Monday 20 May at 3.30pm. For more information or to register for the session please contact the Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre on 71264087 or email tferry@derrydiocese.org

Vocations of St. Joseph St. Juan Vianney Branch will meet on Tuesday 7 May in the Immaculate Conception Church with Rosary after 10.00am Mass and continue in St. Pat’s Hall. New members welcome.

Anam Cara Donegal, the organisation that supports bereaved parents, is holding its monthly Parent Evening for bereaved parents on Thursday 9 May at 7.15pm in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Letterkenny. This event is free and open to all bereaved parents regardless of the age your child died, the circumstances of their death or whether their death was recent or not. We also offer and online service. For more information call 00353 1 4045378.

You are invited to the ‘Following Christ as a Catholic in Ireland today’ Conference and Gala Dinner in the Guildhall, Derry on Saturday 11 May. With Dana, Mickey Harte, John Pridmore (former East London gangster), Patrick McCrystal and others. Bishop Donal McKeown will lead grace at the dinner. Book at www.humanlife.ie or call Human Life International Ireland on 00353 949375993.